To encourage and strengthen one another through a tumultuous year, our sisters in the Champaign Church of Christ (Illinois, USA) wrote and shared their devotional thoughts through a “Women’s Ministry Minute” on their church’s website during 2020.  The quiet time devotionals were written by and for Christian women to build each other up in faith as we all focus our hearts on Jesus.

Here are a few of the devotionals from the series.  To see more, visit the Champaign Church website:  https://champaignchurch.org/womens-ministry-minute

The Golden Rule

By Georgeann Burch

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31

Most of us have grown up hearing this scripture described as “The Golden Rule.”  But I recently learned there are two other rules that can govern behavior – The Silver Rule and The Iron Rule.  Whichever rule you follow will guide your choices and impact your relationships.

Where does the term “The Golden Rule” come from?  Legend has it that when Roman Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235 AD) adopted it as his motto, he had it written on the walls of his palace and on public buildings – written in gold!

Christians have been taught The Golden Rule since we were children. Besides Luke 6:31, this principle is found in Matthew 7:12: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV).  Or as translated in The Message: “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get. In other words, treat other people as you would wish to be treated.

This teaching was familiar to the Jews, but Jesus still told them the story of the king at judgment day who welcomed people into the kingdom because they had treated him kindly.  When the people claimed that they had not done those things for the king, He replied that ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matthew 25:40 (NIV). 

So following the Golden Rule not only guides us to treat people as we would want to be treated; it also pleases God that we would treat others as if He were the one in need. God expects us to take action to help others.

What is the Silver Rule?  The Silver Rule is expressed in many religions as NOT doing to others as you would NOT have them do to you.  For example, in Buddhism, the idea is expressed as: “Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”  Confucius is said to have taught: "Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you."

How is this different from The Golden Rule?  The Silver Rule only requires that a person not harm another.  It doesn’t say anything about doing good. Although it forbids bad behavior, it doesn’t encourage good behavior.  There is no expectation of acting with empathy or kindness or selflessness.

Lastly, there is also The Iron Rule.  Stated simply, it means “might makes right.”  Those who follow this rule believe that whoever has the power, has the right to do whatever they want to the powerless.

In one of Jesus’ familiar parables, we can find people whose behavior and choices are examples of each of these rules of behavior. Before you read further, please get your Bible and read Luke 10:30-35, the parable of the good Samaritan.

Done reading? You probably saw right away that the robbers were acting according to The Iron Rule.  They took from the man what they wanted, and he was powerless to stop them.  The priest and the Levite must have believed The Silver Rule.  Although they did not harm the man, neither did they stop to help him.  They ignored him, even crossing the road to avoid him!  But the Samaritan shows us an unforgettable example of The Golden Rule. He pitied the stranger, but he didn’t stop there.  He took action, bandaging him, getting him to an inn, staying overnight with him, paying for his care, and offering to take care of any more expenses that the man would incur. Wow!  

What rule do you live according to?  What choices do you make when interacting with friends, family, strangers?  What opportunity to really live The Golden Rule is God bringing before you during this time of such disruption in our routines? Do you stop to think in a situation: How would I (my children, my friends) wish to be treated?  How would I treat God if He were the one in need?

We have choices to make every day regarding our schedules, our resources, our attitudes, and our actions.  Let’s pray that we will decide to let The Golden Rule guide us daily, so we can live in a way that is pleasing to God.